Monsieur Salut writes: no Pete Sixsmith at Home Park for Sunderland’s fifth league win on the trot, Aiden McGeady claiming both goals and more crucial saves from Jon McLaughlin, plus some solid defending, keeping another clean sheet before 1,300 travelling fans. And Sunderland are now second top. Sixer’s supersub, John Marshall, provides the seven-word verdict and will be followed by a full report.

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Salut! Sunderland is written, illustrated and edited by - and principally for - supporters of Sunderland AFC. The site aims to be sufficiently literate and entertaining to appeal to people who do not follow SAFC but enjoy good football writing.

Looking at the stats for this and some other games, they show that the opponents had not only more possession, but also more shots at goal. In a way I’m not too bothered by this. It’s showing that our attack is more accurate, but although we’re winning games, we’re not bossing the other teams off the pitch.
Am I a natural worrier?

It’s funny interpreting the snide comments from opposing managers. They refer to our wage bill despite knowing we’re playing players who were free (McGuire, McLaughlin etc) and our academy graduates (Maja, Honeyman etc). They cite how were in the Prem 2 seasons ago…only Catts and Oviedo featured. They say we are lucky….about bloody time too!! Don’t forget the Bard of Merseyside, Mr J Barton esq insisted his team were better than ours man for man. Most of our team have little experience above Championship level. Ross has shown his class and not risen to the bait…..anyway if they are moaning now wait until Watmore is let loose